Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward
Sir: The minister of foreign affairs informed me on Thursday last, in reply to a question which certain newspaper rumors prompted me to address him, that it was the purpose of the Emperor to withdraw all his troops from Mexico in the spring, but none before that time. I expressed my surprise and regret at this determination, so distinctly in conflict with the pledges given by his excellency’s predecessor, Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys, both to you, through the Marquis de Montholon, and also to myself personally. The marquis assigned considerations of a purely military character, overlooking, or underestimating, as it seemed to me, the improtance which this change might possibly have upon the I relations of France with the United States. My first impulse was to send him a note on the following day, asking for a formal statement of the Emperor’s motives for disregarding the stipulations of his foreign minister for a withdrawal of one detachment of his Mexican army during the current month of November. I concluded, however, that it would be more satisfactory to the President that I should see the Emperor himself upon the subject. I accordingly waited upon his Majesty yesterday, at St. Cloud, repeated to him what the Marquis de Moustier had told me, and desired to know what, if anything, could be done by me to anticipate and prevent the discontent which I felt persuaded would be experienced by my country people, if they receive this intelligence without any explanation. I referred to the early meeting of Congress, when any change in our relations either with France or Mexico, would be likely to come under discussion, and my fear that his Majesty’s reasons for postponing the repatriation of the first detachment of his troops might be attributed to motives which our people would be disposed to resent.
The Emperor said that it was true that he had concluded to postpone the recall of any of his troops until spring; but that in doing so he had been influenced entirely by military considerations. At the time he gave the order, the successes of the dissidents, supported as they were by large re-enforcements from the United States, seemed to render any reduction of his force there perilous to those remaining behind.
He accordingly sent a telegram to Marshal Bazaine, who had already embarked a regiment, (eighty-first, I think he said,) but which had fortunately been prevented from sailing by unfavorable winds, directing him to embark no troops until all were ready to come. This despatch, his Majesty said, was not sent incipher, that no secret might be made of its tenor in the United States. The troops were then disembarked and returned to Orizaba. His Majesty went on to say that he sent General Castelnau to Mexico about the same time, charged to inform Maximilian that France could not give him another cent of money nor another man; if he thought he could sustain himself there alone, France would not withdraw her troops faster than had been stipulated for by Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys, should such be his desire; but if, on the other hand, he was disposed to abdicate, which was the course his Majesty counselled him to take, General Castelnau was charged to find some government with which to treat for the protection of French interests, and to bring all the army home in the spring.
[Page 365]I asked his Majesty if the President of the United States had been notified of this, or if anything had been done to prepare his mind for the change in his Majesty’s policy. He said that he did not know; that M. de Moustier ought to have done so; that, as these events occurred during the interim of a change in the ministry of foreign affairs, it was possible that it had been neglected, though his telegram to Marshal Bazaine was purposely sent in a way to show that there was nothing in his plans to disguise.
I remarked that my government was constantly under the necessity of protesting against acts done in the name of his Majesty, and the effect of such protests was always to weaken public confidence in the representations which the government had felt itself authorized to make in regard to his Majesty’s intentions. I then explained to him again briefly the grave inconveniences liable to result from any unexplained departure from the stipulations already given in his Majesty’s name to the world. His Majesty replied that we had the telegraph now, and that any misunderstanding of that sort might be readily rectified.
His Majesty appeared to realize the importance of having an understanding with the President upon the subject, and I left with the impression that he intended to occupy himself with the matter at once.
There is but one sentiment here about the determination of France to wash her hands of Mexico as soon as possible. Nor have I any doubt that the Emperor is acting in entire good faith towards us; but I did not feel sure that the change in his plans, upon which I have been commenting, would receive so favorable an interpretation in the United States. In view of recent successes gained by the imperialists in Mexico, and in view of the somewhat turbulent state of our politics at home, I feared that the course of the Emperor might possibly awaken suspicions in the United States, which might seriously prejudice the relations of the two countries. To prevent such a calamity, if possible, I thought it my duty to take the precautions of which I have here rendered you an account.
The fact which the Emperor admitted in this conversation, that he had advised Maximilian to abdicate, has prepared me to expect every day the announcement of his abdication, for such advice, in Maximilian’s dependent condition, is almost equivalent to an order. That it would be so regarded is, I think, the expectation of the Emperor, and ample preparations for the early repatriation of all the troops have, I believe, already been made by the ministers of war and marine. The Emperor stated that he expected to know the final result of Castlenau’s mission toward the end of this month.
A telegram has appeared in the London Star and Post, quoting a report circulating in New York on the 6th, that Maximilian had abdicated. As despatches received the 7th made no reference to this report, I presume it was at least premature.
I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.